Tips to Plan Your Destination Wedding
Sept. 14, 2005 — -- Destination weddings are becoming increasingly popular, and to help plan the special day on a tropical island or the wine country of California or a romantic castle in Scotland, Destination Weddings & Honeymoons editor in chief Annette Burden, self-described "event planner to the stars" Preston Bailey and Sandals Vice President of Advertising Tony Cortizas offered these tips for potential brides and grooms:
The dress: Brides wear all kinds of dresses at destination weddings, but for tropical weddings, you may want to consider a dress made from lighter fabric that can be packed easily. Several designers have developed specific destination wedding lines. Brides can also check out J. Crew for inexpensive, off-the-rack options.
The planning: When planning the destination wedding, remember to give your guests enough time to rearrange their lives for a week. Send out the save-the-dates well in advance of the invitations. A wedding Web site can also be very useful for planning. You can post information for your guests about the destination where you are headed and let them know about any group discounts that could help reduce the travel costs for your friends.
The documents: Before leaving, make sure you have the proper documents to get married in the country of your wedding. Many countries require only a passport, but there are some that require more paperwork such as blood work or translated copies of your documents. Check with local employees at the wedding venue for details.
The weather: One problem with a tropical destination wedding is that many islands have a hurricane season. Some resorts have hurricane insurance, and will give you a free trip back to the island if there is a hurricane on your wedding day. Your best bet is to study the weather, and pick a time in the dry season. If you really want to get married in the Caribbean in September, you might get a better deal, but you risk getting married in a hurricane. One option is to pick an island below the hurricane belt. Hawaii also has generally fair weather year-round and is a very popular wedding destination.
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